GV60 Magma Ushers In New Era of Luxury High Performance at Genesis

Le Castellet, France—Genesis today unveiled the all-new GV60 Magma in a world premiere at Circuit Paul Ricard in France. This is the first high-performance vehicle from the ten-year-old Korean luxury brand, which intends to make its presence felt in that department over the next decade.Sales will begin in South Korea in early 2026, followed by Europe and North America later in the year.“Magma represents our declaration that the next ten years will be even more significant,” said José Muñoz, President and CEO of Hyundai Motor Company and Genesis. “We’re not just building high-performance vehicles; we’re redefining what a luxury high performance brand can be when Korean innovation meets global ambition.”Photo: Antoine JoubertMore Aggressive Without Going Over the Top
Announced in March 2024, the Magma program has so far resulted in a series of concepts in addition to the upcoming GMR-001 endurance racer that will participate in the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2026 and the North American IMSA Championship in 2027. In terms of production models, the GV60 Magma is the first to be launched.Genesis says it is defined by three key attributes: design (through a low and wide stance creating an athletic yet elegant look), driving sensation (through precise control of power and vehicle behaviour) and user experience (through intuitive delivery of essential driving information and an immersive driving experience).Photo: GenesisAs far as styling goes, the GV60 Magma stands out mainly with a redesigned front bumper featuring three large openings that improve airflow and cooling performance, a monochromatic body without in-your-face accents (except for the rear bumper with an integrated diffuser) and a functional rear wing that increases downforce when driving at high speed.The vehicle also boasts a 20mm lower ride height than the standard GV60 and its wide fenders house Magma-exclusive 21-inch forged wheels on 275mm tires. The side skirts feature three-hole details, mirroring the front design.Photo: GenesisInside, the seats, door trim and centre console are wrapped in Chamude, a premium suede-like material, while orange and grey stitching, quilting details and seat belts emphasize the Magma treatment. Buttons, switches and emblems sport high-gloss black or dark metal finishes, the displays come alive with unique graphics and data, and the new steering wheel features a distinct rim design, black emblem and orange accents on the drive mode and boost buttons.Like a Posh Hyundai IONIQ 5 N
The GV60 electric crossover was a prime candidate to kick off Genesis’ Magma era. Why? Because the engineers were able to easily transpose the Hyundai IONIQ 5 N’s powertrain. Unfortunately, they didn’t seize the opportunity to slightly increase output and torque, which stand at 601 horsepower and 545 lb-ft under normal conditions, or 641 horsepower and 568 lb-ft during the 15 seconds when the boost function is activated.Photo: GenesisDrivers can expect to accelerate from 0-100 km/h in less than 3.5 seconds and from 0-200 km/h in 10.9 seconds (with Launch Control activated), then reach a top speed of 264 km/h on a track.The GV60 Magma offers three drive modes: Sprint, GT and MY. In MY Mode, drivers can customize settings for the electronic limited-slip differential, Electronic Stability Control and other performance parameters. Oh, and there’s a Drift Mode that combines power distribution and e-LSD to support rear-wheel-focused driving. Meanwhile, the Virtual Gear Shift feature adjusts motor output, torque and regenerative braking to replicate the shifting sensations and driving dynamics of a high-performance, ICE-powered vehicle.Photo: GenesisUnfortunately, Genesis said nothing about range, but it did mention that High-Performance Battery Control optimizes battery temperature for peak performance during racing or drag driving. Elsewhere, the suspension has been revised to maximize cornering grip while minimizing vibrations on most surfaces. Naturally, the brakes use larger discs and upgraded calipers.Further details about the new Genesis GV60 Magma, including for the Canadian market, will be provided in 2026. Stay tuned. By the way, its main competitors will include the Cadillac Optiq-V, Polestar 4 and Porsche Macan Turbo Electric.